Indicating device for filing drawers



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,225 A. H. ANDERSSON INDICATING DEVICE FOR FILING DRAWERS Filed Jan. 9, 1925 l (IA/V4444, 2 1%; #42 53 Patented 1 mg. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL HERMAN ANDEBSSON, 03E BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO BAKER-VAW'TER COMPANY, OF BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

INDICATING DEVICE FOR FILING- DRAWERS.

Application filed J'anuaiy S, 1825.

In the use of filing drawers and cabinets which in modern buslness systems are largely used for the filing and classification of letters, bills, card memoranda and various kinds of papers so that ready reference may be made to them, it is frequently necessary to withdraw some particular paper from the drawer, either temporarily, or to be replaced after some interval of time. In the latter case, it is usual to insert an outguide memorandum on which is placed the name of the party into whose possession the paper is placed and the date of the withdrawal. In case, however, the paper is withdrawn for temporary use only, the party who takes out the paper usually sticks a ruler, or blotter, or whatever happens to be handy at the time, into the space vacated by the file, to mark the place for its return. My invention relates to an indicating device designed to be adjustably mounted upon the side wall of the drawer, and which is adapted to be positioned to mark the place to which 'the paper taken out should be returned. With this object in view. I have designed and invented the indicating device shown in the accompanying drawing and hereinafter described in detail, the essential elements of my invention being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a filing drawer of a well known type and equipped with indicating devices embodying my invention, two such devices being shown. though any desired number may be employed; Fig. 2 is an end view longitudinally of the side wall of the drawer of one of the devices, the indicating arm being shown in inoperated or nonindicating position; Fig. 3 is a similar view, but with the. indicating blade turned to indicating or active position; and Fig. 4: is a side or face view of the device. I

Like reference characters indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In filing cabinets and'cases of usual and typical construction, and to which my invention is particularly applicable, the drawer or receptacle for holding the papers or cards is formed with side walls which usually extend midway of the papers when they are filed vertically there- Serial No. 1,339.

in, and there is usually some clearance between such side walls and the side edges of the drawer opening of the inclosing casing of the cabinet. The base member 1 of my novel indicating device in the present instance consists of a strip of resilient spring metal formed with a hinge roll 2 at its top and opposed side clasping portions 3 and 4 formed to engage the top edge of the side wall 5 of the drawer. Pivotally mounted upon a pintle 6 within the hinge roll is an arm in the form of an indicating blade arranged to swing from the depending, vertical non-indicating position shown in Fig. 2 to the horizontal indicating position shown in Fig. 3,'the device being so adjusted in use that in the latter position it will lie between the papers on either side of the one withdrawn.

The clasping portions 3 and i of the device are of course formed to fit the particular filing drawer on which the device is to be used, and the dimensions of the blade and base member are such as to permit clearance in moving the drawer in and out its casing.

From the explanation and description above given, the manner in which my de vice is designed to be used is obvious without extended explanation. l Vhen it is desired to remove a paper temporarily from a file of papers in the drawer, and its position has been found, the device is slipped along the drawer edge to a position opposite it, and the indicating blade turned from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 so that it will lie in the space occupied by the paper withdrawn. Ordinarily when the paper is returned the blade will be restored to its original position,

device for filing drawsition outside and adjacent the drawer side to horizontal position inside the drawer, whereby a selected position among papers in the drawer may be indicated.

2. An indicating device for filing drawers comprising a sheet metal base formed with clasping portions arranged to slidably engage the top edge of the drawer side and with a hinge roll portion, and an indicating blade pivotally connected with said hinge roll portion, and an indicating blade pivotally connected with said hinge roll portion of the base and arranged to be swung to horizontal position inside the drawer, whereby a selected position among papers in the drawer may be indicated.

AXEL HERMAN ANDERSSON. 

